AGENDA

For a meeting of the Full Council to be held in

The Council Chamber Town Hall Welshpool on

Wednesday 22^nd February 2012 at 7pm

1. Welcome by the Mayor

2. Public question time

3. Apologies for absence

4.  Minutes of the last meeting

5.  Confirmation of order of business

6.  Declarations of interest

7.  Mayoral report

8.  Financial

            Financial report

            The current statement of income and expenditure against budget.

            Orders for payment

            To approve the orders for payments.

9. Town Hall and Markets Committee

To consider a recommendation from the Committee as follows:

Minute no 6.     Corn Exchange outer door

The Committee considered the opening of the Corn Exchange on Sundays and the Town Clerk reported on staffing and the possibility of locks to the outer doors.

The outer door could have a mortise lock with the doors repaired to ensure they close flush.

Recommendation

The Committee recommends that a mortise lock be provided to the outer door of the Corn Exchange at the cost of approx £75.

Minute no 9.     Market Review

The Town Clerk reported on the Market Review held in place of the regular Market Traders Meetings. The meeting was attended by Cllr A Holloway, Cllr J Meredith, Cllr T Harvey, the Town Clerk and the Town Hall Caretaker.

There was concern that the markets needed some help over the short term with the retailing sector being so poor.
The Town Clerk (under his delegated authority) implemented a reduction in rents to 50% of normal rates plus a number of other measures including a colouring competition for young people each week.

Recommendation

The Committee recommends that the rent levels for the Markets being reduced to 2 weeks at full rate followed by 2 weeks at nil rental every four weeks until Easter when the situation can be reviewed again.

Minute no 13.   Town Flag

The Committee considered the Town Flag and agreed that it should be replaced.

Recommendation

The Committee recommends that a new flag is purchased and that the edges of such flag be bound to stop fraying around the edges.  Cost approx £125.

Minute no 14.   Town Clerk Pictures and Names on Board

The Committee considered a proposal to have a picture with notation under it for Ken Fletcher (Town Clerk to the Town Council since 1974 to 2006) to recognise his service over many years to the Council

The meeting considered a general policy not only for this request but for all Town Clerks in the future.

Recommendation

The Committee recommends that a picture of each Town Clerk since 1974 be placed in the Council Chamber with a notation under them.  The cost of each photo (at current rates) would be in the region of £20 each.

10.  Recreation and Leisure Committee

To consider the following recommendations from the Committee:

Minute no 8.    Country Park and Playground/Allotments

The Town Clerk reported on a meeting held earlier that day at which were present PCC Planners, Environmental, Highways and Estates Officers, the Allotments Association and the Town Clerk at the Flash where the Country Park is proposed.

It was confirmed that the Allotments Association had been talking to the planning authority about this parcel of land for some time.  The Town Council had been talking to PCC through another officer who was the point of contact appointed to liaise with Welshpool Town Council. 

Previous discussions (some time ago) produced objections to the site being developed for allotments due to vehicular access being required, also some objections at that time from CCW. However time has moved on and the current view is that pedestrian access is adequate and the CCW probably do not have an objection to allotments.  However, there has to be a 10m buffer along the side of the Flash for protection to the SSSI.

The Town Council has the offer of a 25 year lease on the land at £500pa.

The Committee was given a scheme to consider showing a country park area, playground and an area for allotments with pedestrian access only.

The Flash had no objection to a Country Park but Allotments had not `       been discussed with them at this stage.

CCW had not problems with a Country Park and it appeared that there were no environmental objections to allotments.

The access to the site needs to be checked as there appears to be a public footpath which gives access to the site.

The planners are keen to see provision made on this site as follows:

                        A playground with open space

                        Provision for allotments

                        Provision for a balancing pond in one part of the site

The planning authority would be seeking to see an overall plan showing all aspects as described above.

Cllr P Pritchard pointed out that it was not the Town Council’s responsibility to provide allotments; it was a County Council responsibility.  The Town Council has only to identify sites.

The view was also expressed that this was not an appropriate site for allotments and that vehicular access is an issue.

The Town Clerk confirmed that he had consulted with the High School Governors and subject to addressing some concerns they had not objection in principle.  Allotments had not been discussed with them.

Although layout and ideas were discussed the Town Clerk confirmed that the matter would need to be considered by the Town Council.

The Committee as reminded of the following:

The Community Plan which does have an aim to support allotment provision.

The decision not to allow for some allotment provision may prove to be unpopular with some of the population.

The Committee considered all aspects and resolved that all the land was needed for the Country Park and Play Area and that such area should not be reduced by allotment provision.

Recommendation

The Committee recommends that a lease be entered into with the land owners of the 3.5acre site at the Flash owned by David Corfield as follows:

            Term               25 years

            Rent               £500pa

            Land use       County Park, Playground and open space.

            See plan at appendix A for area of land to be included.

The Committee further recommends that a planning application is submitted for the Country Park and Playground uses.

11. Events Committee

12. Finance and General Purposes Committee

13.  Wind Farms, Pylons, Hubs and Tranport

14.  County Councillor Reports

15. Correspondence

16.  Donations

There are three donation applications for this month:

            Impact Schools Team – see appendix

The balances in the donations budget at this time are:

Budget                             £4,500.00

Allocated to date              £2,200.00

Balance                           £2,300.00

17. Dates for meetings in the following month